What Is a Kennel or Boarding Dispute?
A kennel or boarding dispute is a claim against a boarding kennel, daycare, pet hotel, or pet sitter for harm that came to your pet while in their care, or for failing to provide the services you paid for. Boarding facilities are bailees: they accept your pet and must return it in the same condition.
Common boarding disputes:
- Injuries from fights with other animals
- Illness from unsanitary conditions or unvaccinated animals
- Dehydration, weight loss, or missed medications
- Escape from the facility or during walks
- Heat stroke or exposure from inadequate climate control
- Death during the stay with no explanation
- Services paid for but not provided, such as playtime, walks, or medication administration
- Charges for extra days or services never authorized
Can You Sue a Kennel in Small Claims Court?
Yes. Vet bills, boarding fees, and the value of a pet typically fall within state small claims limits (typically $2,500 to $25,000).
Legal claims that apply:
- Bailment — the facility must return the pet in the condition received or explain why not
- Negligence — failure to supervise, sanitize, or provide care
- Breach of contract — services paid for and not provided
- Consumer protection statutes — misrepresented facilities, staffing, or supervision
What You Need to Prove
- The pet was healthy at drop-off — intake form, vaccination records, recent vet visit, photos
- The pet was harmed while boarded — photos at pickup, vet records, the facility's incident report
- The facility's fault or inability to explain — supervision failures, sanitation, admissions
- Your losses — vet bills, boarding fees, replacement value, medication, follow-up care
Evidence to Gather
- Boarding contract, intake form, and feeding or medication instructions
- Vaccination records and recent vet records
- Photos of the pet at drop-off and at pickup
- Veterinary records and bills after the stay
- The facility's incident report and any camera footage you can obtain
- Messages with the facility, including any admissions or apologies
- Witness statements from staff or other customers
- Necropsy report if the pet died
- Your demand letter
Step-by-Step: Filing Your Claim
Step 1: Get Immediate Veterinary Care
Have the vet document the injuries or illness and state the probable cause and timing.
Step 2: Request Records from the Facility
Ask in writing for the incident report, feeding and medication logs, and footage.
Step 3: Send a Demand Letter
Itemize your losses, cite the facility's duty as bailee, and set a deadline.
Step 4: File and Serve
File in the county where the facility is located. Name the business entity and, for a sitter, the individual.
Step 5: Present the Case
Show drop-off condition, pickup condition, the vet's findings, and the bills. Explain that the facility has not adequately accounted for what happened.
What You Can Recover
- Veterinary bills and medication
- Refund of boarding fees
- Replacement value of a pet that died or was lost
- Necropsy and cremation costs
- Search costs for a lost pet
- Filing and service costs
Final Thoughts
A boarding facility that takes your pet takes responsibility for it. When your pet comes home hurt, the law asks the facility to explain, and small claims court makes them pay when they cannot.
SmallClaimsHero makes the process easier by providing step-by-step guidance, helping you accurately complete required forms, and keeping your documents organized in one place. It helps reduce errors, avoid delays, and ensures you stay on track so you can focus on building a strong case and moving toward resolution with confidence.